Could go down in the annals of Rugby World Cup history as a classic: Ireland against South Africa on September 23rd at the Stade de France
The Irish national rugby team has always taken part in the World Rugby Union Championships, which have been played every four years since 1987. The “Cloverleaves” – the team is made up of players from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK – have been in the quarter-finals seven times so far. Seven times it was said: final stop! This negative series should come to an end at the tenth Rugby World Cup currently taking place in France. The title is the declared goal of the team around the now 38-year-old playmaker Johnny Sexton. The final on October 28th at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis is probably Sexton’s last chance to crown his outstanding career with a World Cup title with the “Webb Ellis” trophy.
After winning 15 international matches in a row, the world number one now met number two, defending champions South Africa, on Saturday. The top duel at the Stade de France delivered what it promised: The 13-8 win for Ireland has what it takes to go down in the annals of World Cup history as a classic. From the kick-off, a game developed that was characterized by both exceptionally high speed and enormous toughness. The contact situations were conducted so uncompromisingly by both sides that even one or two of the spectators watching the TV set could only limp to the fridge when they were having a beer during the half-time break. Nevertheless, it always remained fair. There were neither yellow nor red cards, and not one scene had to be checked by the video referee for excessive hardness or dangerous play.
The “Springboks” initially took the lead with a penalty kick from Manie Libbok (6th), then both teams largely neutralized each other. In the 33rd minute, Sexton almost gave Ireland the lead with a try. But the Irish playmaker was stopped on the line in a central position. Scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park quickly recycled the ball and passed it to James Lowe, who set up Mack Hanson on the right wing for the first attempt (33′). As usual, Sexton converted the subsequent increase (35th) for two points to make it 7:3, which was also the halftime score. In the 47th minute of the game, Faf de Klerk missed the goalpost with a penalty kick, but four minutes later Cheslin Kolbe ran into the Irish in-goal from the left wing and made the first attempt for South Africa to make it 8:7. However, Libbok represented the raising kick. Libbok and de Klerk left a total of eleven points for the “Srpingboks” after dead balls – it was the decisive weakness. It cost South Africa victory. The Irish, however, were as confident as ever with their feet. Sexton (59′) made it 10:8, shortly before the end of the game Jack Crowley – Sexton had been substituted five minutes earlier – increased the score to 13:8.
On Sunday things went downhill for “Down Under”: After a resounding 6:40 defeat against Wales, Australian rugby is in one of its deepest crises to date. The chances of reaching the knockout round are only marginal. The Wallabies have never been eliminated in the preliminary round of a World Cup before. Wales, on the other hand, who have so far only had outside chances, underlined with their performance that the team is a force to be reckoned with in the further course of the tournament. In just the third minute of the game, Wales took a 5-0 lead after a try from scrum half Gareth Davies. Dan Biggar, who had to be replaced shortly afterwards with an injury, increased the score to 7-0 with a kick (4th). After converting two penalties (9th/14th), Australia came back to 7:6 – these were the last signs of life for a young and completely overwhelmed team. After three penalties (21st/29th/39th) by Gareth Anscombe, Wales went to half-time with a 16-6 lead. After the break only Wales played, which after two more tries by Nick Tompkins (48th) and Jac Morgan (78th) as well as a drop goal (Anscombe/70th) and three penalties (43rd/52nd/60th). .) won 40:6.
Already on Thursday, hosts France suffered a bitter loss in their 96-0 win against Namibia. Exceptional talent Antoine Dupont – the head and heart of the French team – had to be substituted with a broken jaw after an ugly head collision with Johan Deysel. It initially remained unclear whether Dupont would be able to take part in the tournament again after the operation in Toulouse on Friday. Deysel was sent off with a red card for dangerous play.
